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Wolves confirm Burrell will switch codes and play Super League
By Ben Spratt
Luther Burrell will trade rugby union for rugby league later this year when he joins Super League side Warrington Wolves from Northampton Saints.
The former England international centre has agreed to a deal to leave Northampton at the end of the Premiership season, joining Wire on July 1.
The 31-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with Warrington and says he is excited to make the move.
"I know I will need to earn the trust of my team-mates first and foremost," Burrell said. "I also hope to bring some physicality, that edge and the ability to break the line.
"I've had the opportunity to play for England in union and to play on some of the biggest stages in finals. I'd like to think I can transfer the experience I have gained into rugby league.
"I'm not here to make up the numbers. I'm coming over and I mean business."
The Super League outfit see him as a 2020 season replacement for Ryan Atkins, the 33-year-old who is in his testimonial year at the club.
League isn’t an alien rugby code for Burrell. He played for Huddersfield Giants growing up before embarking on a successful union career that saw him play for Leeds and Sale before his 2012 switch to Northampton catapulted him into the England frame.
Burrell has accumulated 158 appearances to date since arriving in Northampton from Sale Sharks ahead of the 2012/13 season, scoring 29 tries.
In his debut season the Huddersfield-born midfielder helped guide Saints all the way to the Premiership final against Leicester Tigers, before the side went one better the following campaign and claimed a historic double success in the Premiership and European Challenge Cup.
Burrell started both finals as Northampton scooped both trophies in the space of eight days, and 2014 also saw him break into international contention as he was called up for England’s Six Nations campaign.
He went on to earn 15 caps for his country, last featuring for the Red Rose in Australia as England secured a historic 3-0 series win over the Wallabies.
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Agreed. As a Saffa I have much respect for the ABs. I also have to say given any option I would ONLY prefer to lose to ABs. To lose to England is probably the most embarrassing think to happen to either of us.
There was a time when both of us lost to England and we both hated it. Thankfully those days are behind us. Kudos to you guys, kudos to ABs. But dear old BS seems to hate us Boks. No idea why.
Go to commentsI got the sense that holding him to it was kickback from SB and the rfu smarting at being jilted quite so soon, so unexpectedly and so publicly.
Seem to remember that they spoke to Gustard before appointing Joe and you really have to think he would have come in at a higher level?
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